The idea of the fast track program is to give students dual credit for successfully completing a graduate-level course that is paired with an undergraduate course. They may apply the undergraduate courses to their undergraduate degrees and use the graduate courses towards their master’s degrees if they join our graduate program.
Fast Track is a procedure in which students who intend to earn a master’s degree in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering can take a graduate course and, upon successful completion, receive graduate credit for that course, as well as have the opportunity to take credit by exam for the corresponding undergraduate course (up to three courses/maximum 12 credits total). This will allow the graduate course, in effect, to count both towards undergraduate graduation requirements and to be reserved for graduate credit.
It is requested the students come by and talk with the professors teaching the courses to find out how the grading procedures will be handled. Depending on the course content, there are options to assign reading material and test them out or have a decision based on progress of the graduate course being taken.
Requirements for participation
- Minimum cumulative GPR of 3.5.
- Intent to pursue a graduate degree in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Texas A&M.
- Approval of the professor offering the graduate course and Director of Undergraduate Programs or Undergraduate Advisors, and Director of Graduate Program or a Graduate Advisor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
- Complete the Fast Track Form by the deadline.
- Submit all Requests through the following link: tx.ag/ECENGradPetition.
- You must receive a letter grade of either an A or B for these courses to qualify as Fast Track
Reserving Courses for Under Graduate or Graduate Credit
- If approved, you may be allowed to take Graduate courses as an undergrad student.
- You may reserve these graduate courses to use toward your undergraduate degree or reserve for graduate credit.
- Please fill out the Petition entirely before the deadline.
- Make sure you check the box that states what you are requesting: “Use toward undergraduate degree” OR “Reserve for graduate credit”
Reserving 400 level courses
- As an undergraduate student, you can reserve up to 2 400-level courses for graduate credit.
- Please note that only two 400-level courses can be reserved for graduate credit.
- Please be sure to complete the petition form
- Make sure you check the box that states: “Reserve for graduate credit”
- You are allowed to submit a petition to Reserve for graduate credit for 400-level courses previously taken. If you submit a petition for a 400-level course you have previously taken, you will still need to get the instructors signature.
- Note that these courses cannot be used to fulfill your undergraduate degree if reserved for graduate credit.
Important Information
- Do not submit more than three Fast Track Requests.
- Do not submit Fast Track Requests or Petitions for classes you have already taken.
- Requests cannot be processed if you have already received a letter grade for the course.
- All requests must be submitted before you have taken the course, not after you have taken the course.
- If you are submitting a Fast Track Request, please submit the Fast Track and Petition Form together.
- Complete the Fast Track Form and The Petition Form for the respective Graduate Course.
- On the petition, only check the box to reserve for graduate credit. There is no need to check both boxes when submitting a Fast Track Request.
- Submit Fast Track or Petition Requests for the current semester.
- The only exception to this rule is when reserving 400-level courses for graduate credit
- Submit all requests by the deadline.
Deadlines
- Spring Semesters: Requests must be received by January 1st
- Fall Semesters: Requests must be received by August 1st
For more information contact an advisor.